Mission

People should believe that they can change things. It is not about a few
activists fighting for other people’s rights. Anybody who has imbibed this
understanding should be able to go and fight for their rights.

Sangram is a voluntary organization that
works at the grass root level with a lot of activists, volunteers and paid
workers. It is slowly gaining importance as a practical training ground for
other NGO’s and GO’s interested in working on HIV/AIDS in a rural context.
SANGRAM started its work with women in prostitution and sex work from South
Maharashtra and North Karnataka way back in 1992 and has since fanned out among
diverse populations. SANGRAM is based in Sangli district, which has the highest
incidence of HIV/AIDS in Maharashtra after Mumbai.

The organization works to create a collective consciousness among women, to
increase their ability to negotiate safety independently, and strengthen women
to assert their rights. Women’s Rights are particularly difficult to talk about,
because they question traditional patriarchal structures. It also helps discuss
official policies, legal and ethical issues which affect stigmatized and
marginalized groups and to create spaces which these groups can use The
organization helps to discuss the rights of women, people with diverse
sexualities and people living with HIV/AIDS.

Though the HIV/AIDS discourse has bought to fore the need for protecting the rights of vulnerable communities like people in sex work;
Read More

Activists see red over abolitionist plan on sex work

An open letter to CAP Int'l condemns the conflation of prostitution and trafficking, says focus on victims
Read More

NATIONAL NETWORK OF SEX WORKERS [NNSW] STATEMENT

CHALLENGING THE ‘LAST GIRL FIRST’: SECOND WORLD CONGRESS AGAINST THE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF WOMEN AND GIRLS ( JANUARY 29‐31, 2017, NEW DELHI, INDIA) ORGANISED BY THE COALITION FOR THE ABOLITION OF PROSTITUTION INTERNATIONAL (CAP INTL)
Read More

Beyond the Violence of Stigma and Victimhood

Open Letter to the delegates of ‘Last Girl First’: Second World Congress against the Sexual Exploitation of Women and Girls (January 29-31, 2017, New Delhi, India) organised by the Coalition for the Abolition of Prostitution International (CAP Intl)
Read More

Daughter Of The Hills

TRAFFICKED AND RESTORED

Sex Work Allies South Asia [SWASA] is an initiative to empower sex work leaders and regional networks and build alliances with civil society in order to address harmful
practices, advocate for change in discriminatory laws and policies resulting in improved HIV and health services and access to justice for sex workers. The initiative
will develop and strengthen networks of sex workers by strengthening their skills to address discrimination, laws and policies. Given the challenges faced in advocating
for the amendment of policies and laws in country, the strength of collectives coming together under regional networks will enable the collectives to learn from each other’s
experiences and struggles.

This graphic narrative builds on the work of SWASA in Nepal and India, supported by American Jewish World Service.
Read More

SANGRAM In The News

Sex Work of their own Volition

In DNA, Mumbai December 2015

SANGRAM engaged in a debate with Pravin Patkar, rejecting the notion that sex work was violence and exploitation. The article calls for a more rights based understanding of sex work, placing the women at the centre of the discourse rather than abstract discussions.
Read More

Sex Work and Dignity

In Mint Lounge, November 2015

Ms. Meena Seshu was covered in the MINT Lounge for her work with SANGRAM and the people in sex work, VAMP.
Read More